The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been forced to change the venues of the knockout stage of the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). Indore, Holkar Cricket Stadium, and Emerald High School Ground were to host the last 13 matches, Super League and Final, from December 12 to 18.
SMAT knockouts moved to Pune
However, the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) has informed the BCCI that they won’t be able to host the matches due to logistical challenges. Due to a global doctors’ conference in Indore, MPCA is unable to find hotels, as several top players are expected to attend.
Therefore, BCCI has moved the SMAT knockouts from Indore to Pune. Now, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Gahunje and the Dr DY Patil Academy in Ambi will host the matches.
“We informed BCCI about a fortnight ago that we will not be able to stage the SMAT knockouts, as there is a lack of hotel room availability here due to some global conference (of doctors) in Indore from Dec 9-12,” MPCA CEO Rohit Pandit told the Times of India.
IndiGo flight crisis might change BCCI’s plans
Amid the IndiGo flight crisis, around 1,000 flights have been delayed or cancelled due to technology issues, weather, and new crew rostering rules; BCCI might face some serious logistical challenges. The board might be forced to change the venues of domestic tournaments.
They’ll have to fly players, coaches, umpires, and officials to Pune from the four group stage venues for SMAT: Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Hyderabad. Furthermore, other domestic tournaments are also underway.
“If the crisis continues, it could be a challenge to fly the eight participating teams, as well as the umpires and other officials, to Pune for the SMAT knockouts. Also, the Women’s Under-23 T20 Trophy in Ahmedabad and the Men’s Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy are going on at the moment, for which the teams and officials (umpires and officials) need to travel constantly,” a source told Times of India.
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